Though it may not dominate the headlines like it may have done a year ago, the situation in Gaza is even more heartbreaking than ever.
For women in particular, it’s dire. There is no reason to beat around the bush, but we understand it’s hard to read about.
This blog post takes a look at the medical care and services available to women in Gaza. We also highlight some great organisations making a real difference on the ground.
We recognise that there are developing conflicts throughout the rest of the Middle-East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe. This article is not intended to undermine these conflicts, but to recognise the hardships faced by Palestinian women in the face of continued oppression.
The current healthcare situation in Gaza
It is terrifying to live in Gaza at the moment, and these fears are heightened for a lot of women across the area. Ongoing violence is a blockade for all to basic healthcare services, with lots of new mothers facing life-threatening risks due to collapsing healthcare infrastructure. According to the organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), only 17 out of 36 hospitals remain partially functional. According to ActionAid, this equates to just 1500 hospital beds. This, among many other factors, forces displacement and puts pressure on the facilities elsewhere.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) states that there are around 180 babies born daily in Gaza, and many in unsafe circumstances, with discharges being authorised prematurely, if they’re seen at all. For context, this is a 10th of the UK’s birth rate. Many women rely on makeshift shelters for homebirths, with no medical support whatsoever.
Medical supplies and medicines – the current situation
According to ActionAid, the medical supply shortage in Gaza is astronomical. For example, 65% of the insulin needed in Gaza is non-existent. 83% of the required food isn’t seen by civilians, and as a result, people in Gaza on average, manage to find only one meal every other day.
Basic hygiene supplies and menstrual products have dropped to 15% of pre-conflict levels. Without access to basic provisions and clean water, women are at particularly high risk of infections, including Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Unfortunately, there are man-made reasons for this lack of healthcare access. Restrictions on aid entering Gaza are systemic. According to ActionAid, numbers of medical trucks entering Gaza per day has decreased by over 85% since it started.
This is nowhere near enough to meet the needs of the 2.2 million civilians still living precariously in Gaza.
An example of the consequences: The resurgence of polio
The most recent health issue to shock the headlines has been the polio resurgence.
Gaza had been polio-free for over two decades, but the region reported its first case in this time in August 2024. According to MSF, it has been fueled by the living conditions, damaged water and sanitation infrastructure and the lack of access to medical professionals and provisions.
In response, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF have launched an emergency vaccination campaign. According to the UN, however, the risk of further spread is possible due to the unsanitary living conditions and lack of clean water.
What have the UK committed?
Back in February 2024, UK officials emphasised the need for a pause in the conflict to facilitate the entry and dispersion of key aid in support of women and girls in Gaza.
The UK Government announced a £4.25 million donation in aid for essential reproductive health services, including clean birth kits, menstrual hygiene supplies, and support from 100 community midwives.
The support in its totality is expected to reach over 115,000 women. The Foreign Secretary at the time, David Cameron, said he expected that “this new UK funding will help make giving birth safer and improve the lives of mothers and their new-born babies”.
At Kari we are optimistic, perhaps naively, that the current Government will take a stronger stance on supporting women in regions of military bombardment than their predecessors.
International support – what is the European Union doing?
In response to the sharp decrease in medical supplies and resources, compounded by the obstruction of medical trucks into the territory, the European Union has emphasised the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law.
This emphasis comes with a strong condemnation of the situation, calling for an immediate ceasefire, which as of yet, has gone unheard.
However, medical supplies have been making their way from the EU through the Humanitarian Air Bridge for Palestine set up in response to the violence.
As of February 2024, 41 flights had transported over 1,800 tonnes of humanitarian cargo into the area. This was donated by humanitarian partners, EU-owned items and donations from the Member States.
But what does ‘humanitarian cargo’ actually mean?
According to the EU, this assistance includes health items, pharmaceuticals, water and sanitation items.
Support from international organisations
There are many examples of humanitarian work being carried out not by governments, but by organisations. Listed below are some examples:
#1: Anera
This organisation helps those in difficult situations live decent and dignified lives. Importantly, everyone who works at the organisation are from the same communities the organisation helps, so that solutions are as protective as possible. With a large portion of their work being undertaken in Gaza, one recent project provided psychosocial support to women and their children, which has been massively important since “almost everyone living in the Gaza Strip suffers from depression due to the suffocating conditions” as one participant explained. You can read more about the project, and also how to donate, here.
#2: Doctors without Borders
The organisation provides independent, impartial medical humanitarian assistance to those most vulnerable. In Palestine, the organisation provides medical and psychological assistance to those affected by conflict, displacement, and occupation. Before Israel launched their offensive on the area, teams had developed three hospitals, outpatient clinics and a laboratory for microbiological analysis services. As of the end of December 2023, the organisation was operational in 6 hospitals and one general healthcare facility in Gaza.
#3: Women for Women International
This organisation partners with local organisations in Gaza in order to address humanitarian needs. These have included providing displaced women and children with hot meals, warm clothes, hygiene kits, trauma counselling and menstrual supplies.
Looking ahead…
Despite international pressures for a ceasefire, it still continues.
Blockades of provisions and supplies for some of the most vulnerable people on the planet continues, with only political justifications.
It is our view at Kari that this is simply unacceptable – and that everyone has the right to sanitation and healthcare.
There are amazing organisations working to help alleviate the pressures faced by civilians in Gaza, some of which can be found below.
Did you find this article helpful this article?
If so, you can read related Kari Health articles here:
The Unequal Effects of Conflict on Women
Impact of a Change of Government on Women’s Health Policy
What Everyone Needs to Know About Female Genital Mutilation
